Bead dipping apparatus



Nov. 22, 1949 N HAMBURG 2,488,535

BEAD DIPPING APPARATUS Filed Aug'. 4, 1945 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 22, 1949 BEAD DIPPIN G APPARATUS Nathan Hamburg, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Joseph H. Meyer Brothers, Brooklyn, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application August 4, 1945, Serial No. 608,963

5 Claims.

l My invention relates to a novel device for supporting pins on which are mounted articles to be treated, and more particularly my invention Vrelates to a device for supporting in vertical position toothpicks on which are mounted spheres which are to be treated as by dipping in plastic solutions. Y,

'In the manufacture of articial pearls and other elements of costume jewelry which are formed by coating glass or plastic spheres, such dipping operation is best handled by supporting the sphere by a toothpick inserted in the bead hole and then supporting the toothpick vertically for a mass dipping operation.

Many .difficulties arise in this supporting operation, however, because of the variance in the thickness of the toothpicks or similar supporting pin elements so that a uniform fixed hole cannot accommodate the different thicknesses of toothpicks without ,distortion or de- Ystruction of the hole element.

Also, it is desirable in this operation that the 'spheres be leveled on so that all the spheres are in the same plane for the dipping operation and the pressure exerted on the sphere` and transmitted to the toothpick oftencauses breakages on the toothpick so that sections of broken toothpicks are left in the supporting holes.

When these holes are -in metal, wood or other rigid material they become clogged up or broken so that fewer and fewer become available and the'operation soon is impaired by the scarcity of available supporting holes.

It has been thought necessary, however, to use rigid openings since considerable strength is necessary for supporting the toothpicks both during the leveling off and during the dipping operations.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel supporting structure for holding a Vmultiplicity of toothpicks onto which are mounted objects to be treated.

It is a further object of the present invention non-uniform thickness so that the toothpicks can be vertically moved with respect to one another and so that the supporting openings can accommodate the various thicknesses of the toothpicks.

YIt is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel device by means of which the various toothpick supporting elements can ness.

without expense or expenditure of any considerable time or labor.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel inexpensive device for supporting and uniformly spacing a large number of toothpicks of non-uniform thickness on which are mounted spheres that are to be dipped downwardly into a plastic solution.

These objects are accomplished by providing a frame in which are set a plurality of corrugated layers, the ends of the corrugated layers being exposed to provide a number of receptive openings for supporting the toothpicks, the respective toothpick supporting rows being spaced by intermediate cushioning layers which provide a resilience necessary for the proper support and reception of the toothpicks of non-uniform thick- By non-uniform thickness I mean that the toothpicks normally available in commerce, not only have a changing diameter running from a point at one end to a relatively thick middle portion, but the great majority of toothpicks vary as much as fifty per cent (50%) in thickness in any given portion of the toothpick. That is, the middle or area of greatest thickness in one toothpick can vary from 1050% with respect to another toothpick from the same lot.

Since it is not economically feasible to obtain perfectly uniform diameter toothpicks for this operation because of the large number of toothpicks needed and because of the wear, tear, loss and breakage of the toothpicks, it is necessary to use such non-uniform diameter commercial toothpicks.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective,

partially cut away, showing the device of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged small portion of the device of my invention showing the open ended corrugated toothpick supporting elements with the intermediate cushioning layers therebetween Y partially cut away to show their construction.

Figure 3 is a top view, partially ycut away, showing the toothpicks in spaced relation in the corrugations in the device of my invention.

Referring now more specically to the drawings, in Figure 1 I show a supporting frame generally referred to as Id which comprises side pieces II and I2 and end pieces I3 and I4. The end pieces and the side pieces are suitably joined as by screws I6. For convenience in handling I the frame Ii! handles I1 and I8 are aixed to end pieces I4 and I3 respectively.

The side pieces II and I2 are slotted on their be interchanged when their usefulness has ended g5 .llr faces as shown so as to receive the toothpick supporting elements more clearly shown in Figure 2. Like reference numbers will be used for like elements in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

The toothpick supporting elements as shown in the figures specifically comprise a central rigid supporting element 2i) which may be of Wood, plastic or metal and positioned at each side of said rigid element 2d are corrugated layers generally referred to as 2| and 2l. Corrugated layer 2l comprises a corrugation 22 with liners 23 and 24 afxed to each side of said corrugation as by adhesives which secure the contacting portion of the corrugation 22 to that portion of the liners 23 and 24 which it lis in contact with.

Both the corrugation 22 and the liners 23 and 24 may comprise paper, cardboard or paper or cardboard impregnated with a stifiening agent such as resin or cellulose plastic.

Alternatively the vcorrugated material can be formed from a resin or plastic or a mixture of resins or plastics. Suitable plastics are, for example, cellulosic plastics such as the cellulose esters, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, cellulose aceto propionate and cellulose aceto butyrate or the cellulose ethers such as ethyl and benzyl cellulose.

The resins that may be employed here for the impregnation of paper or cardboard corrugated elements, or which may be used per se as the corrugated or liner elements are the vinyl compounds, such as the conjoint polymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate or the vinyl acetal resins such as vinyl butyral, linear polyamides such as those sold under the trade name of nylon and the various other resins possessing flexibility and sufficient strength to perform the Afunction of a corrugated element as described herein.

-I .have particularly found it desirable to use resin Yimpregnated corrugated elements for reasons that will be set out more specifically hereinafter.

The toothpick Ysupporting element therefore comprises .an open end vcorrugated layer positioned and supported by an adjacent rigid piece.

rIlhe corrugated layers have their open ends :exposed .to receive the toothpicks as shown in Figures 2 and 3. It is necessary, however, to provide considerable resilience in these corrugated layers in order to firmly hold the toothpicks, to accommodate toothpicks of various thickness and to properly support said toothpicks when and if such toothpicks are moved verticallywith respect tc said corrugated toothpick supporting elements.

'I'his .resilience and gripping force is obtained by interspacing `said toothpick supporting elements with resilient members which comprise a double Vcorrugation consisting of a corrugated member .26 anda corrugated member 21 amxed to one another by liner 28 and externally covered with sheets 29 and 39. This double corrugated element Vis preferably covered over with cover 32 which may, for example, comprise an ordinary sheet wrapping of paper or plastic sheet material which completely surrounds the double corrugation and its covering and joining elements 28, ,29 and 38, or .the coverelement 32 may merely cover the exposed end corrugations.

It is desirable thatthe corrugations be as completely closed as possible since I have found that by so doing I obtain a resilience, improved over the lresilience formed by the corrugated structure itself. That vis 'byclosely covering the corrugated cells or by completely sealing the corrugated cells I obtain a cushioning element that comprises a multiplicity of sealed air cells.

When the toothpicks 34 on which are mounted the glass or plastic spheres 35 are pressed into the open end corrugations as shown, they bear against the ,resilient corrugation cushion which vcomprises the corrugated elements 26 and 21 bound together and sometimes hermetically sealed by the cover 32. This corrugated cushion element is generally referred to as 31 and as shown in Figure l and Figure 2, it interspaces the toothpick supporting elements 2l which are set into slots 38 and 39 of the side elements Il and 1,2. To hold these elements in place I provide a bottom supporting member 4D xed or formed integrally with the side member Il and a similar bottom supporting element 4I which is aiiixed to the side element l2.

To hold the toothpick supporting elements 2l and the `cushioning elements -31 in place when Athe board is handled or reversed in the course of operation, I provide securing strips 42 and 43 which are suitably ailxed to the side members il and i2 by screws or bolts 45.

The device of my Vinvention is assembled by removing the securing strips 42 and 43 from the side 'members :ll and I2 `and inserting in the Islots 38 'and 39 the toothpick supporting elements 2l which comprise thecentral :rigid member with two corrugated layers laflixed thereto.

Positioned 'between lthese toothpick supporting elements and in .pressure contact therewith are the corrugated .elements generally referred Ito as 31 and which comprises a covered assembly Aof 'at least one vcorrugated element to provide increased resilience and gripping strength `to the corrugated elements `22 into Whose exposed ends are inserted the itoothpicks '34.

`When the entire tray is filled with the toothpick supporting elements 2l and the interspaced cushioning `elements 31, the Asecuring strips 42 and 43 rare secured as shown in Figures l and 3 overthe side members ill and :I2 to hold these ftoothpick supporting elements and cushioning elements in place.

When toothpicks are inserted into 4these corrugations theyare Viirmly held in the desired ver.. v.tical `position Vand when the spheres 35 are .pressed ydown into :alignment with one another,

the toothpicks 1are held in their end position v firmly and surely throughout the treating operation.

Because of the .great number of openings provided, -the same board can be used for all sizes of beads, since spacing of the toothpicks is determined by the size of the bead.

There is little damage normally done to the corrugations by insertion of the toothpicks or by .pressing of the spheres on the toothpicks, but

when damage does occur either through mishandling or through extended wear, the great numbers of -receptive openings available makes replacementneoessary over only extended periods since there are usually sufficient operative receptive openings in the .corrugations 22 fixed to the ,liners 23 .and 24 -available for a considerable periodzof time.

In the event, however, that replacement iinally becomes necessary it is a relatively simple matter to remove the securing strips 42 and 43 and v'merely pick out damaged toothpick supporting `elements Whiehit `has 'become necessary to re- ;place 'and inserta new toothpick supporting unit `suclzlfras 2l vor 2|.

Such replacement Vdoes `not necessitate the disassembling of the entire Vunit and requires only that the particular damaged unit be picked out and the replacementinserted in lieu thereof. Y

Although I prefer not to attach the corrugated tooth pick supporting element 2| and 2l to the rigid member'2n, they could be so aiiixed as by adhesive if desired.

The intervening cushion 32 does not extend out as far as-the toothpick 4supporting corrugations as can beseenin Figure 3.

The rigid element 2l) maintains the proper positioning of the toothpicks since it positions the corrugated layers. The rigid elements also serve to line up the toothpicks since because of their rigidity they are not thrown out of line during any processing operation.

It has been found desirable to employ a plastic coated or plastic impregnated corrugated element or corrugated elements formed entirely from plastic material since plastic or resinous material is such as to provide a firm and sure grip on the toothpick while at-the same time providing a surface capable of withstanding a solvent or chemical attack during the process.

The plastic or resinous material makes the corrugation substantially impervious to moisture and preferably I employ plastic or resinous material that is impervious to the solvents or chemicals used in the solutions with which the spheres are treated.

Thus the exibility and gripping strength of the corrugations are unimpaired by water or solvent absorption even over extended periods of time.

Further the surface strength of the plastic (which includes both cellulosic plastics and resins) is such as to prevent internal tearing of the corrugations by the pointed end of the toothpick since the wooden toothpick has insufficient strength to penetrate plastic or plastic coated corrugated elements.

I have also found that these corrugations when mounted on a rigid central piece and cushioned as here shown can accommodate and properly hold toothpicks of extreme diiferentials in diameter without permanent impairment or destruction of the corrugated element. That is, the corrugated element is made suilciently elastic and this can of course be enhanced by the use of plastic coatings or materials so that the insertion of toothpicks having a diameter even larger than the opening of the corrugation will not permanently damage the opening or render it inoperative for later use.

The bottom of the board (not shown in the drawings) is the same as the top side shown. Thus, I can use both sides of this device and get extended life and utility therefrom.

Although I have found it desirable to employ plastic or plastic coated corrugated tooth pick supporting elements, it is to be understood that I obtain extremely satisfactory results by employing ordinary paper or cardboard corrugated toothpick supporting elements.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the novel principles of the invention disclosed herein in connection with the specific exemplications thereof will suggest various other modifications and applications of the same. It is accordingly desired that in construing the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limited to the specific exempliiications of the invention described herein.

I claim:

1. In aV device for vertically supporting tooth ll i) pick likeelements, a corrugated'member compris-I ing a. central corrugated relement and at least one liner element secured thereto, said corrugated element and said liner together forming a plurality of adjacent pockets vadapted to receive and position toothpick elements, said corrugated member being supported to a rigid member, means for applying resilient pressure to said corrugated member, said meansv comprising a second corrugated member positioned adjacent to and in pressure contact With said first corrugated member, said second corrugated member having the open ends ofthe air cells formed within it closed by sheet material extending over said openings to increase the resilience and cushioning effect of said second corrugated member.

2. A device for vertically supporting and aligning tooth pick like elements comprising a frame, said frame having two side members and two end members, said side members having slots facing inwardly and toward the slots on the opposing side member, a plurality of elongated board like members, the ends of said elongated members fitting into and being supported in the slots in said side members, said elongated members comprising an elongated rigid member and a substantially coextensive corrugated member comprising corrugated flexible sheet material adhesively secured at spaced contacting points to a liner positioned on each side of said elongated member, and substantially coextensive therewith, said corrugated member having an exposed end surface adapted to receive and position tooth pick elements, cushioning members positioned between said elongated members the slots in said frame being so spaced as to cause the cushioning members to press the corrugated members toward the adjacent rigid members.

3. A device for vertically supporting and aligning toothpick-like elements comprising a frame, a plurality of elongated members contained in said frame, said elongated members including an elongated rigid member and a substantially coex` tensive corrugated member which comprises a corrugated iiexible sheet material secured at spaced contacting points to a liner positioned on at least one side thereof, said corrugated sheet and said liner together forming a plurality of adjacent pockets adapted to receive and position toothpick elements, and a resilient cushioning member in lateral pressure contact and substantially coextensive with said corrugated member to press the said corrugated member toward the rigid member.

4. In a device for vertically supporting toothpick-like elements, a corrugated member comprising a. central corrugated element and at least one liner element secured thereto, said corrugated element and said liner together forming a plurality of adjacent pockets adapted to receive and position toothpick elements, said corrugated member being supported Yby a rigid member, means for applying resilient pressure to said corrugated member, said means comprising a second corrugated member positioned adjacent to and in pressure contact with said first corrugated member, said second corrugated member having air cells Within it to increase the resilience and cushioning eifect of said second corrugated member.

5. A device for vertically supporting and aligning toothpick-like elements comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs of parallel elongated corrugated members contained in said frame, each of said corrugated members comprising a corruassess gated dexible sheet ,material secured at spaced points .to ,a liner ,positioned on at "least one side thereof so that said corrugated sheet and said liner `together form a plurality-of adjacent pockets adapted sto receive and position toothpick ele-- NATHAN HAMBURG.

REFERENCES CITED vThe following references are of record `in the 'le sof ithis tpatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Adair Oct. 24, 1899 Corkery Dec. 19, 1911 Anderson Nov. 21, 1922 LSilver Aug. 2, 1932 Pullen June 22, 1937 VBravi May 17, 1938 VLick Dec. 16, 1941 

